held up towards rear, headway to go mid-division and mistake 8th, hit 10th, soon weakened, pulled up 4 out
in rear, blundered 10th, weakened before 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led, joined from 10th, headed after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after last
tracked leader, joined leader 10th, led after 3 out, pressed 2 out, soon headed, kept on and no chance with winner, lost 2nd place near finish
held up towards rear, headway 5 out, went 3rd before 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, kept on strongly from last
tracked leaders and keen, weakened before 4 out
tracked leaders, blundered 9th, soon lost place, kept on from 3 out, no impression
held up mid-division, reminders before 7th, went 3rd from 5 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
A tricky puzzle to solve as Rawaaj again didn't shine over fences when favourite at Bangor earlier this month. Karinga Queen is still a maiden over the larger obstacles after 17 attempts and neither of Lucinda Russell's pair, Eyre Apparent and Fog Patches, make much appeal on recent efforts. Bocamix tackles fences for the first time but isn't badly treated on his hurdles form and should be thereabouts if his jumping holds up though preference is for ARROW BARROW. John Wade's seven-year-old won off a higher mark over timber at Doncaster in December and has had a short break since finishing third over fences at Newcastle. He still has time on his side and can get back to winning ways this evening.
Bocamix (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden before last, kept on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Marino Prince (10-11) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Apr.
Latin Connection (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up behind, pushed along after 4 out, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 43l behind Bow School (11-3) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Eyre Apparent (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Tracked leader until after 3rd, stayed handy, 5th 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 28l behind Grandads Horse (11-12) at Haydock 2m 4f Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-135) (4-8yo) (3) gd in Apr.
Rawaaj 13-8fav (11-12) Chased winner mistake 3rd, reminders and dropped to last 6th, soon beaten, last of 4, 42l behind Onefourfun (11-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Karinga Queen (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Towards rear, 11th halfway, no threat from 4 out, moderate 7th before last, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 13l behind High Talk (10-5) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-102 gd.
Ballymacduff (IRE) 28-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, weakening when hampered 4 out,, 9th of 13, well behind Scotswell (11-4) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Arrow Barrow (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, outpaced before 4 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on well, never able to challenge, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Sambelucky (10-9) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Fog Patches (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Mid-division, not jump well, lost place 3rd, headway before 10th, weakened approaching 14th, pulled up before 16th, in a race won by Tipsy Dara (11-2) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Apr, 10 ran.
